I just got a chance to sail on a Tartan 30. It seemed well built, has a LOT of space down below, and I think if I could find the starboard galley version, it would be a great liveaboard/day sailor/overnighter and as soon as I can get back to 0, and get some money in savings, hopefully do for some cruising.

But she feels BIG. I''ve sailed 35 footers that feel smaller. Just intimidated me a little. She matches everything I was looking for, but I''m hesitant to get into something that I know I cant man handle. I''ve gotten alot better with my boat about not using force, setting my sails right and not overpowering, coming into dock slow, so I can step off and have the boat stop in just the right place, etc, but I''m afraid of moving up to something I may lose control of and have it cause thousands in damage to the dock, and to itself.

Now, in my head, I know the bigger gozzard I was on a few weeks before, or the pearson 38 a week before that, or any one of a host of other boats I''ve been on would do the same thing, but they dont feel so big to me.

Itís all relative. You will get used to handling whatever you eventually settle on - and (within reason) it wonít take long.
By way of analogy:
The scariest part of any cruise Iíve been on, has almost always occurred upon my return shoreside. After 6 months afloat, you jump into a car, and hit the Interstate. Believe me, 45 MPH on the highway can be TERRIFYING!
Itís all relataive. The T-30 is essentially a small boat - it just seems large to you (today). Handle her for a short while, and you''ll be contemplating a 36 footer.

We have a T30. We have the aft galley model. I like it. A lot. For two people it''s almost the perfect size. The head could be bigger. As it was tough to fit the jacuzzi in there. ;o) For the year and length, the T30 was a large boat design at the time. I was initially impressed by the room, but since the purchase, it''s shrunk. A little. If you''re looking for a 30-ish footer for under $20k in decent condition, I couldn''t recommend it enough.

As for the handling, you''ll eventually get used to it. Wait till you try and go in reverse. The handling under internal combustion power can be tweaked with changing props too. I''m not sure which prop does what though, I still have the Martec folding prop. Handling under sail, once you get used to it, these boats are easy to single hand.

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